Earwire having a curved ear surface engaging means



Oct. 18, 1960 F. H. DAVIDSON 2,956,422

EARWIRE HAVING A CURVED EAR SURFACE ENGAGING MEANS Filed May 6, 1955FIG. l. FIG. 2.

INVENTOR United States Patent 01" EARWIRE HAVING A CURVED EAR SURFACEENGAGING NIEANS Frank Hodge Davidson, 849 S. Oxford Ave., Los Angeles,5, Calif.

Filed May 6, 1955, Ser. No. 506,447 1 Claim. (CI. 63-13) This inventionrelates to an earwire and more particularly to an arrangement forutilizing the weight of an appendage as a securing means. This inventionwas disclosed in my design patent application Ser. No. D. 31,888, filedAug. 16, 1954, which is presently pending, and for which one claim hasbeen allowed, and contains the features therein disclosed, with otherfeatures included.

One object of this invention provides for an arrangement whereby thisearwire can be easily secured to, or removed from a pierced ear.

Another object of this invention provides means allowing for eliminationof hand operated securing devices.

Another object provides an arrangement for covering the perforation in apierced ear by utilizing supported weight.

For the achievement of said objects and other objects that mayhereinafter become evident to be identified, I have shown an embodimentof this invention in the drawing herewith.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my earwire attached to an earlobe, withparts broken away and parts shown in Referring to Figure 1, it may beobserved that theearwire therein shown is comprised of an open circularsection 2, terminating at one end 55, in a ring-like opening, and theother with a rounded end 22, with a section 3 attached to, and situatedbetween said ends, and forming a part of said circular section, thecombination of which is designated by the arrow 5. I have further showna ring R, which is shown supporting an appendage D, and Figure 1includes an illustration of an earlobe L, as shown supporting an entireassembly. The desired vertical alignment is shown in Figure 2.

For the convenience of reference I will refer to that section of 5,situated between and including numerals 22 and 23, as the supportsection, to section 3, which includes portions 33 and 34, as theornamental, and or control section, to that portion of 5 to which thearrow 5 points, which includes the control section, originating at 33,and terminating with 55, as the transfer section, and to the end 55, asthe force opening, of the transfer section, and I will now proceed todescribe the construction thereof. e v

This earwire may be formed from any preferred or desired material whichwill serve the purposes set forth, such as metal, plastic or the like,and in any preferred or desired manner. One method 'of construction maybe accomplished by'taking a length of round wire, turning same around acylindrical form of desired circumference, then cutting across saidwire, thereby making rings resembling large open jump-rings, smoothingone end 22 in a rounded manner, and turning the other 55, within theperimeter to a closed ring, aligning 22 and 55, thereby completingsection 2. Section 3 may be effectively attained when formed or stampedfrom a flat disc of sheeted material such as metal, to the form shown inthe drawing, then drilled with a hole at the desired location and angle,of a circumference compatible to the diameter of the wire used, to allow22, to be threaded through said hole, and brought to the desiredposition, then secured, as shown completed in Figures 1 and 2.

Referring to Figure 1 to further identify and describe these sections,or portions thereof, I will now refer to the end 22 as the safe end ofthe support section, and it may be noted that said end has been rounded,this for the sole purpose of rendering said end harmless, as it ispresentedto, and as it penetrates L, through the perforation, to'

' which the reference letter P is directed. While I have merouscurvatures, and or, lengths adaptable.

tive dimensions of the several portions of the disclosedport section,and L to maintain said control.

shown 22 as being evenly rounded, this will be understood asexemplifying but one of many contours applicable. The other end of thesupport section, is the pivotal control point 23, whereby L supports thesupport section. That lying between 22 and 23 is intended to provide anarc-like curvature, or its equivalent, sufficient to allow a measure ofsecurity and versatility when engaged with an earlobe. It is furtherintended that this section be cylindrical of cross section, with asmooth surface, to provide a compatible association with said earlobe,and possessing tensile strength sutficient to provide an eifective'association, with said earlobe. Though I have shown this section with aneven moderate curve of short length, this will be understood asexemplifying but one of nu- The relaembodiment may be calculated byreference to the size given to L.

Upon referring to the control section 3, which is at-.

tached to the support section, may I direct your attention to portion33, which is intended to safely engage, or embrace the face of a piercedearlobe on the contact side (see Figure 1), while presenting anornamental, and or decorative side 34 to the observer. Said controlsection is shown as saucer-like in appearance and convex facing theearlobe L, for the purpose of presenting a smooth nonirritating yetrelatively large area of contact to the face of the earlobe, alsoserving as a stop point, and control surface, the control feature, beingdependent on the sup- The stop point is where L contacts 33 at thepivotal control point 23. While I show section 3 to be concavo convexin; contour, with a circular perimeter, this will be under-' stood asmerely an example, of one of numerous forms that may be given to thissection. The control section may also be used in applying, or removingthis earwire to or from fixed association with a pierced earlobe.

Here I wish to point out the efiFects of the engagement between thecontrol side, or surface and the lobe. It

may be noted, that the part of L lying below P, and concaused by theweight of the assembly resting on the lower part of L, however this alsoconfers a more rigid tendency' to the upper part of L, where L contacts33 and cheeks the upper portion of the rearward roll of the assemblysforce, where it also assists the support section in lateral control.

The transfer section, shown in Figure 1, passing through the controlsection and forming a part of the support section, has been so shown todemonstrate one method of construction, and round wire has been utilizedbecause of its compatible nature to a pierced ear. How- Pateii'ted Oct.18, 1960 ever, the transfer section itself, shown emanating from 3,. butoriginating at the contact surface 33, and terminating at 55, is soshown, solely to demonstrate one effective means of transferring theforce supplied to- 55' by- D; and the material used, is intended topossess tensile strength, suflicient to reasonably resist deformation,said transfer section is intended to be sufiiciently rigid, be" causeupon this section lies the responsibility of transferring the effects,of the weight of the appendage. D, from a downward pull (i.e. caused bygravity), to the direction of the arrow T or an upward, and/or, rearwardpush, against the control section, whereby the face of the earlobe, willcontain said push, at the pivotal control point 23. To accomplish thispurpose the transfer section must cover an arc, or equivalent thereof,exceeding."

180 degrees, from an effective originating point: (i.e. wherewith anappendage is afiixed), to an eifectiveter minal, on the contact surface33. The aforementioned effective points are determined by the amount ofpressure desired against the face of L. It is also. intended that thescope of curvature, or its equivalent, of the transfer section, be wideenough to allow sufficient clearance below the lower tip of L wherebythe transfer section of its force opening will never interfere with themaneuverability of this earwire, and never touch said lower tip of L,when movement occurs causing said transfer section or force openingthereof to maneuver around said tip of L. Then too, the transfer sectionmay be used to apply or remove this earwire to or from its fixedassociation with an earlobe. While I have shown the transfer sectionwith a circular perimeter, said perimeter is subject to change withinthe scope of effectiveness, and cylindrical in cross section, this toomay be so changed, and may be decorated if desired.

The force opening 55, of the transfer section, has been shown in Figure1 to be turned inside the perimeter of 2, this for the sole purpose ofdemonstrating one effective method of turning same, however, therelative hearing of this portion to the pivotal control point 23, isintended to be Within the boundaries of effectiveness necessary tosupply the pressure needed by 3, whereby 3 will retain close adjacencywith L, then too, this portion must be equipped with said force openingwhereby to retain a suitably hung appendage. The opening in 55 is showncircular, to show one adaptable type of opening allowing for freedom ofmovement to said appendage. Because I have turned 55 inwardly, a ring Rhas been added merely to supply extra freedom of swing to D. When '55sopening is turned outside the perimeter of 2, this ring may beeliminated, or added to, as desired, according to choice of appendage,which appendage must possess sufiicient weight to effect the desiredresults, and which turning must remain within the scope ofeffectiveness. The space between 22 and 55 has been shown, just wideenough for L to be inserted through said space without difficulty, butsaid space is of course subject to change, contingent on the variationselected.

Upon viewing Figures 1 and 2, an appendage D may be observed hangingfrom a ring R, this to show one type of accessory suited to cause 5 tofunction as desired, and one acceptable method of hanging same, bothitems may be altered as desired, to correspond with any allowablealterations selected for 55, and/or 5.

Having thus described this earwire, I will detail its application to aright pierced ear. By holding the edges of 3, or the transfer section,turning the wrist clock-wise to the point where the opening between 22and 55 is,

adjacent the lower tip of the earlobe, raising the hand to the pointwhere 22 is opposite the entrance of the perforation P, and inserting 22in, and through the perforation, in a counter clock-wise turn, releasingsaid hold and allowing the weight of the appendage to take overeffective control.

The removal is accomplished by grasping said part or parts, and rollingthe wrist clock-Wise to the point of disengagement, said clock-Wisemotion being reversed in removing a left earwire.

The human earlobe is inconsistent in contour and thickness, but ifallowances are made to conform to said inconsistencies in structuraldetail, an average pierced earlobe perforation may be covered asforetold.

It will be repeated with additions, that the appendage D must possesssufiicient weight, whereby it can supply the force opening 55, with apersistent pull when motion occurs, and constant pull when motionceases, and 55 must be a part of a transfer section arrow 5, that willtransfer the. effects of said persistent, or constant pulls, by way of arigid arc, or its equivalent, arrow 5, to a pushing force on a controlsection 3, which forms a part of said transfer section, and 3 must beequipped with a contact surface 33, which represents the opposite end ofthe transfer section, from 55, and said contact surface must be equippedwith a smooth arc-like support section 2 extending from 33 outward, anddownward, aligned with said transfer section, and said force opening 55thereof, for the purpose of safely engaging and smoothly penetrating apierced earlobe L, wherewith said appendage D, will cause this assemblyto cling tenaciously to its versatile association with said earlobe, andwherewith said control section 3 is covering the perforation of saidpierced earlobe, and wherewith this earwire is secured in position atthe pivotal control point 23, solely by the results of cause, created bysaid weight.

Having thus detailed my invention, what I claim as novel and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

An ear wire device comprising a rigid body having a downwardly curvedupper extension adapted to traverse an ear lobe, an abutment fixedlymounted on said body with a curved surface intersecting said body at thevertex of said curved upper extension adapted to contact the outersurface of said ear lobe when the device is worn, and curving away fromsaid body extension for providing a pivotal control point at said pointof intersection, a lower extension of said body terminating in anappendage support below said upper extension, and an appendage supportedthereby, said appendage and said upper extension cooperating to biassaid earwire device in a direction such that said abutment contacts saidouter surface of said ear lobe at said pivotal control point when thedevice is worn.

